Nationals MP Pat Conaghan joins other Coalition figures breaking ranks to lobby for Newstart raise

ABC News
Feb 27 2020

Related Story: 62yo who was on Newstart asks: 'How do you suggest people at my age have a go to get a go?'
Related Story: Barnaby Joyce joins calls to increase Newstart allowance
Related Story: Liberal senator and former minister Arthur Sinodinos has a 'radical' idea for Newstart

The Prime Minister is under renewed pressure from within his own ranks to increase unemployment benefits with a Nationals MP arguing it is needed to address poverty in rural and regional areas.
Key points:

    Nationals MP and Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan says he wants a raise in Newstart, joining colleagues including Barnaby Joyce and former PM John Howard
    Recipients get a minimum of $280 a week and, in real terms, the rate has not increased in 20 years
    Successive governments have shown little appetite for an increase despite pressure from economists, social services and business groups

First-term MP Pat Conaghan, who represents the New South Wales mid-north coast seat of Cowper, has broken ranks from Government policy and told the ABC he wants the Coalition to raise Newstart by $75 a week.

Mr Conaghan joins a growing number of colleagues including former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and former prime minister John Howard pushing for an increase.

He described the current rate as "inadequate" and said the Government should still be in a position to adjust Newstart, despite budget pressures.

"I would urge my colleagues from both sides of the floor to have a real discussion. Not just throw it up in the air and punch the ball around," he said.

"This is something that I think should be at the top of my priority list because you've got kids that are going to school without food.

"Forty-one per cent of kids under 15 [years of age] in both Kempsey and Nambucca are under the poverty line."

Newstart recipients get a minimum of $280 a week and, in real terms, the rate has not been raised in two decades.

It is estimated a $75 per week increase would cost the budget $3.3 billion a year, and Mr Conaghan acknowledged it was a sensitive time to campaign on the issue because of the money being spent on bushfire recovery, drought, floods and managing coronavirus.

    "It's probably the worst time to raise this conversation but we have to have it," he said.



When asked if he would prioritise people and poverty over a budget surplus, he replied "absolutely, any day of the week".

    "Despite the challenges we've faced over the last 12 months, I think we're still in a position that if we start that conversation now we'll recover from the fires, we'll get over the coronavirus, and the budget will still be in a position where we can genuinely talk about raising Newstart."



Successive governments have shown little appetite for increasing the rate despite pressure from leading economists, social services and business groups.
Drought, fires pushing more people onto welfare

With droughts and bushfires affecting numerous regions, the Red Cross said it is likely many more people are being pushed onto welfare payments.

"You've got a lot of people who might have lost their livelihood," said the agency's head of emergency services Andrew Coghlan.

"They may have lost tools of the trade in the case of builders and carpenters. For others they may have had a home office and it may have been destroyed.

"These types of things can lead to people having to apply for different types of assistance."

Increasing Newstart would lower inequality
The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling has found increasing Newstart would reduce inequality and boost incomes most in the 25-36 age group.

That rings true for the volunteers behind charities such as Loaves and Fishes, a food store in Coffs Harbour.

It sells heavily discounted groceries to people in need and also gives food away for free.

The store's founder, Russell Jones, said in a city of 75,000 people the store had almost 5,000 members signed up to receive discounted and free goods.

"When you factor in their families we're helping out about 15,000-odd people in our area," he said.

Well said Mr Conaghan, how right you are.  Yes newstart should be increased.  Long overdue and there is no reason why it should not be increased.   :( 

I was unemployed for 10 months about nearly 7 years ago.
I wasn't given a penny from Centerlink.
There must be millions of unemployed people who also get nothing.

They have a book called

"1001 reasons not to pay people anything."



You need to be an Abbo to get all the benefits:


https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg

they cut mum off her pension again - ive been dealing with them all week. its horrible.

Spot

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 6:35am:

they cut mum off her pension again - ive been dealing with them all week. its horrible. Spot

I wonder what trick Greggy uses to get the dole?

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 5:09am:

I was unemployed for 10 months about nearly 7 years ago. I wasn't given a penny from Centerlink. There must be millions of unemployed people who also get nothing. They have a book called "1001 reasons not to pay people anything." You need to be an Abbo to get all the benefits: https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg

What benefits are they mate....You made the statement now back it up with some facts ya racist prick???

:-? :-? :-?

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 7:24am:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 5:09am: I was unemployed for 10 months about nearly 7 years ago. I wasn't given a penny from Centerlink. There must be millions of unemployed people who also get nothing. They have a book called "1001 reasons not to pay people anything." You need to be an Abbo to get all the benefits: https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg What benefits are they mate....You made the statement now back it up with some facts ya racist prick??? :-? :-? :-?

I am not racist  - there is no racial bigotry here
on this forum.

Sir Spot of Borg wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 6:35am:

they cut mum off her pension again - ive been dealing with them all week. its horrible. Spot

Centrelink needs to be investigated by a Royal Commission. If any other organisation - government or private - was making as many mistakes as Centrelink does, they would have been investigated long ago and shut down or reformed. Centrelink is so dysfunctional that problems with Centrelink are one of the most common cause of complaints to MPs.

Anyone who has a problem with Centrelink should make a complaint to their local Federal MP. Not necessarily to resolve the complaints, but to make them spend so much time on Centrelink issues that they will eventually figure out that the problem is, as Bobby said, "1001 reasons not to pay people anything".

It's getting that bad out there that there is a real risk that long-term unemployed workers could end up suing the government in a class action lawsuit. Settling such a lawsuit could cost $100 billion or more.

The Lefties are longing for the never ending handouts that Socialist Labor gave them and borrowed to pay for them.

And the Libs are STILL paying off Labor's gigantic debts!!!!!


https://i.postimg.cc/66vR3Q3R/x4-o.jpg
The descending spiral of union caused low productivity and artificial increases in cost of living.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 8:12am:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 7:24am: Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 5:09am: I was unemployed for 10 months about nearly 7 years ago. I wasn't given a penny from Centerlink. There must be millions of unemployed people who also get nothing. They have a book called "1001 reasons not to pay people anything." You need to be an Abbo to get all the benefits: https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg What benefits are they mate....You made the statement now back it up with some facts ya racist prick??? :-? :-? :-? I am not racist  - there is no racial bigotry here on this forum.

So what benefits do Aboriginal people get that nobody else does mate....You made the comment now back it up or be called a racist scum bag you are???

:-? :-? :-?

Bobby, there is a rumor that Greggy might be an Aboriginal!!!!

A Newstart increase will achieve very little except a drag on taxpayers' funds.

Most Newstart increases will be wasted on drugs, drink, tobacco, poker machines, and sick inducing fast food resulting in eventual high cost to Medicare when they get very sick.

Put them to work driving for UBER, catching cane toads, picking fruit, picking up dead birds killed by wind farms, cleaning dust and bird dropping off solar farms, clearing up the bushfire damage cause by the sick diseased Greenies, etc.

juliar wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 9:44am:

Bobby, there is a rumor that Greggy might be an Aboriginal!!!!

Greggy puts nugget on his face and gets
the extra Abbo benefits.

;D

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 9:30am:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 8:12am: philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 7:24am: Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 5:09am: I was unemployed for 10 months about nearly 7 years ago. I wasn't given a penny from Centerlink. There must be millions of unemployed people who also get nothing. They have a book called "1001 reasons not to pay people anything." You need to be an Abbo to get all the benefits: https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg What benefits are they mate....You made the statement now back it up with some facts ya racist prick??? :-? :-? :-? I am not racist  - there is no racial bigotry here on this forum. So what benefits do Aboriginal people get that nobody else does mate....You made the comment now back it up or be called a racist scum bag you are??? :-? :-? :-?

He'll run away like a little girl, just like he always does.

Greggy, are you Aboriginal ?


Pas Forgione
February 19 at 10:05 PM ·
Renaming Newstart Allowance to JobSeeker Payment - as will happen on March 20th - is an Orwellian move, and a cruel joke.

None of us should forget that over 40 percent of people on Newstart have, at best, only a partial capacity to work, with many battling serious, complex, chronic, often permanent mental and physical health issues.

Many of these people not only struggle to work, but struggle to even leave the house.

Stuff your cynical name change, Federal Government, we want to raise the rate.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 9:48am:

juliar wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 9:44am: Bobby, there is a rumor that Greggy might be an Aboriginal!!!! Greggy puts nugget on his face and gets the extra Abbo benefits. ;D

What benefits....You made the claim and it has been called out as bullshit....Now back it up you racist scum bag???

:-? :-? :-?

juliar wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 9:27am:

The Lefties are longing for the never ending handouts that Socialist Labor gave them and borrowed to pay for them. And the Libs are STILL paying off Labor's gigantic debts!!!!!

The Libs and Nats have run up more debt in seven years than all other governments before them. The sick delusional fantasies of the Libs and Nats are destroying this country and running it into the ground. It's going to take 20 years of progressive government to clean up the wasteland that the Libs and Nats have made of this country.

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 10:15am:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 9:48am: juliar wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 9:44am: Bobby, there is a rumor that Greggy might be an Aboriginal!!!! Greggy puts nugget on his face and gets the extra Abbo benefits. ;D What benefits....You made the claim and it has been called out as bullshit....Now back it up you racist scum bag??? :-? :-? :-?

Don't call me scumbag you scumbag.

Look here:
 
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/steps/what-information-relates-indigenous-access-program/50779#a1


I actually heard somewhere that each Abbo
costs the taxpayer $47k per annum in
all sorts of extra costs.
I can do some searching tonight but
I thought it was well known.
Maybe youre being disingenuous?

forgiven
namaste

No surprise Greggy, who is rumored to be an Aboriginal, is looking so smug.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 10:45am:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 10:15am: Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 9:48am: juliar wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 9:44am: Bobby, there is a rumor that Greggy might be an Aboriginal!!!! Greggy puts nugget on his face and gets the extra Abbo benefits. ;D What benefits....You made the claim and it has been called out as bullshit....Now back it up you racist scum bag??? :-? :-? :-? Don't call me scumbag you scumbag. Look here:   https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/steps/what-information-relates-indigenous-access-program/50779#a1 I actually heard somewhere that each Abbo costs the taxpayer $47k per annum in all sorts of extra costs. I can do some searching tonight but I thought it was well known. Maybe youre being disingenuous? forgiven namaste

You are a scum bag and a racist....You cannot support your claims because they are bullshit!!!

Aboriginal people do not make 3 car payments and the Government pays the rest or any other bullshit you have been lead to believe!!!


Quote:

Generally, Indigenous people receive the same level of public benefits as non-Indigenous people. Individuals do not get extra funding because they are Indigenous. However, specific government programs, not additional income, have been introduced for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples because they are the most economically and socially disadvantaged group in Australia. Special programs are necessary to help overcome disadvantage.

::) ::) ::)

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/questions-and-answers-about-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-peoples


Quote:

The shocking truth about non-Indigenous Australia is that many people mistakenly assume that Indigenous Australians coast through life, receiving privileges and benefits. Bronwyn Carlson busts this myth with some hard truths.

::) ::) ::)

https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/voices/culture/article/2016/12/07/heres-truth-about-free-ride-some-australians-think-indigenous-peoples-get

How come Philly knows so much about Aboriginal WELFARE SCAMS ? Is he...

juliar wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 10:56am:

No surprise Greggy, who is rumored to be an Aboriginal, is looking so smug.

He probably got  a Dept of Community Services house
out of it.

juliar wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 11:29am:

How come Philly knows so much about Aboriginal WELFARE SCAMS ? Is he...

Because I am not an ignorant racist like you ya dickhead....The fact you cannot provide any evidence to support your bullshit shows why you are considered a complete dickhead!!!

::) ::) ::)

Your Abbo tax dollars doing a lot of work.



https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg

juliar wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 9:44am:

Bobby, there is a rumor that Greggy might be an Aboriginal!!!! A Newstart increase will achieve very little except a drag on taxpayers' funds. Most Newstart increases will be wasted on drugs, drink, tobacco, poker machines, and sick inducing fast food resulting in eventual high cost to Medicare when they get very sick. Put them to work driving for UBER, catching cane toads, picking fruit, picking up dead birds killed by wind farms, cleaning dust and bird dropping off solar farms, clearing up the bushfire damage cause by the sick diseased Greenies, etc.

That shows an extremely callous and uncaring attitude.

What about those of us who have invested in "drugs, drink, tobacco, poker machines, and sick inducing fast food"?

Nobody cares...

Philly is annoyed at the suggestion he might be Aboriginal. Is he ?

Bobby there is quite a bit of recycling there. But the trouble is the unreliable renewable rubbish only works about 3 days a week and the aluminium refinery needs full power 24/7 to stop the molten aluminium freezing in the pots.

Where on earth did the Failed Felon come from ? Dropped in for a bit of scavenging ?

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 11:39am:

Your Abbo tax dollars doing a lot of work. https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg

So nothing apart from racist bullshit....Why am I not surprised you are a worthless sewerage pipe....Hollow and full of crap!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 12:26pm:

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 11:39am: Your Abbo tax dollars doing a lot of work. https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg So nothing apart from racist bullshit....Why am I not surprised you are a worthless sewerage pipe....Hollow and full of crap!!! ::) ::) ::)

It's time to treat Booby the same way as other useless trolls: ignore him.

juliar and Booby (as a couple) are ruining this forum for everyone else.

Ignore them - don't give them the attention they crave.

This place will be a lot better when they get so bored that they leave.

Remember what is was like when juliar was banned for a few months?

The place became almost normal again.

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 12:30pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 12:26pm: Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 11:39am: Your Abbo tax dollars doing a lot of work. https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg So nothing apart from racist bullshit....Why am I not surprised you are a worthless sewerage pipe....Hollow and full of crap!!! ::) ::) ::) It's time to treat Booby the same way as other useless trolls: ignore him. juliar and Booby (as a couple) are ruining this forum for everyone else. Ignore them - don't give them the attention they crave. This place will be a lot better when they get so bored that they leave. Remember what is was like when juliar was banned for a few months? The place became almost normal again.

Not going to let racist bullshit go unchallenged Greg....I expect they have no self esteem anyway so ignoring them would make little difference!!!

:-? :-? :-?

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 12:30pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 12:26pm: Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 11:39am: Your Abbo tax dollars doing a lot of work. https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg So nothing apart from racist bullshit....Why am I not surprised you are a worthless sewerage pipe....Hollow and full of crap!!! ::) ::) ::) It's time to treat Booby the same way as other useless trolls: ignore him. juliar and Booby (as a couple) are ruining this forum for everyone else. Ignore them - don't give them the attention they crave. This place will be a lot better when they get so bored that they leave. Remember what is was like when juliar was banned for a few months? The place became almost normal again.

Shut up Greggy.
Look in the mirror  -
you're by far the biggest troll on this forum.
Go and ignore yourself.

Bobby. wrote on Feb 27^th, 2020 at 1:34pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 12:30pm: philperth2010 wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 12:26pm: Bobby. wrote on Feb 27th, 2020 at 11:39am: Your Abbo tax dollars doing a lot of work. https://gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/037/659/323/original/2e2db75aef4ef206.jpg So nothing apart from racist bullshit....Why am I not surprised you are a worthless sewerage pipe....Hollow and full of crap!!! ::) ::) ::) It's time to treat Booby the same way as other useless trolls: ignore him. juliar and Booby (as a couple) are ruining this forum for everyone else. Ignore them - don't give them the attention they crave. This place will be a lot better when they get so bored that they leave. Remember what is was like when juliar was banned for a few months? The place became almost normal again. Shut up Greggy. Look in the mirror  - you're by far the biggest troll on this forum. Go and ignore yourself.

https://firebrandtalent.com/wp-content/uploads/Dollarphotoclub_65731574_opt.jpg

The 2 Lefties Philly and Greggy team up because they are annoyed. Wonder if they are both Aboriginal ?

Just what will a Newstart increase actually achieve ?  Probably not much except more demands for more money.

Now a touch of nostalgic NewStart Welfare Fraud.



Tackling welfare fraud is worth it
CHRIS PIPPOS JANUARY 14 2013 - 10:30PM

SINGLE parenting and Newstart payment fraud accounts for almost three quarters of total welfare rort convictions, a new report has found.

This is followed by Disability Support Pension and Partnered Parenting Payment rorts, which make up a further 15 per cent  of welfare fraud convictions across the country.

And women, many in the 31-50-year-old age bracket, comprise two-thirds of convicted offenders, contributing to an average of about 3000 cases a year involving Centrelink customers defrauding the system.

The figures were released last month in a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology, which sourced data spanning between 1997-2010 from Centrelink and the Federal Government.

The AIC has now flagged greater ``covert surveillance'', which is proving more successful in Hobart than any other capital city, to catch welfare cheats.


``. . . across the top 15 benefit types for fraud for 2008-09, the Single Parenting Payment accounted for 39.6 per cent  of convictions and 46.9 per cent of debt associated with prosecution,'' the report noted.

``The Newstart Allowance (unemployment benefit) accounted for 32.3 per cent  of convictions and 23.9 per cent  of debt associated with prosecution.

``Together, they accounted for 72 per cent  of convictions and 70.7 per cent ($33.5m) of debt.

``This means that if fraud could be prevented in these two areas alone, then an extraordinary 70.7 per cent of all fraud could be prevented in financial terms and over 2000 court cases could be dispensed with each year.''

The report also found -

? ?In 2008-2009, 1023 covert surveillance operations (outsourced to a private firm) were completed with 589 deemed ``actionable'' leading to a reduction of $5.5 million in welfare payments and $21.2 million debt recovered;

?Covert investigations had an ``effectiveness indicator'' of 72.5 per cent;

?Public tip-offs received in 2008-2009 triggered 50,277 Centrelink reviews and debts and savings of $119.3 million;

?In 2007-2008, Centrelink received 101,595 tip-offs nationwide, and;

?16.2 per cent of tip-offs resulted in an alteration to the recipient's payment.

?The report also showed taxpayers were getting good bang for their buck in Hobart, with an average $39,597 being saved per fraud investigation (38 completed in 2008-2009).

However there was no mention of the success or otherwise in other parts of Tasmania.

The AIC made a number of suggestions to tackle welfare fraud, including prevention and compliance measures.

``A number of specific strategies to reduce fraud could also be trialled, including increased numbers of compliance reviews and increased earlier detection of error,'' it summarised.

``Greater use might also be made of covert surveillance and system penetration tests.


``Alternatives to welfare should also be considered as a likely key means to both reduce the welfare poverty trap and reduce opportunities for fraud.

``These include enlarging compulsory superannuation, increasing the retirement age, enlarging supported employment for persons with disabilities and adopting a genuine full employment program.''

https://i.postimg.cc/k5X150Kt/Capture.jpg

https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/1235228/tackling-welfare-fraud-is-worth-it/?cs=87&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter